Chapter 25

"Zachary…Wake up you sleepy head!"

Zachary opened his eyes slowly and saw a young girl with brown hair standing in front of him.

"Sleeping in the office as usual?" she said with a smile.

"Get lost Sarah I have work to do," replied Zachary, who looked down at his documents and carried on with sorting them out.

"Why that's nice… I was thinking being the workaholic as you are that you probably hadn't had lunch yet so I brought you this," said Sarah as she held out a lunch box, "But since you don't seem to appreciate my efforts I guess I will just throw it away then…" and as she proceeded to walk towards the door, Zachary had suddenly called out, "I was just kidding!" and Sarah turned around immediately and smiled.

"Knew you'll say that," said Sarah as she sat by the table and watched Zachary eat.

"Not bad," Zachary said as he chewed onto a piece of chicken, "At least it isn't as charred as last time…"

"Hey!" said Sarah who was pouting, and Zachary chuckled.

"You are still the same as ever, even after our parents had died you have never failed to try your best at everything. Whether it was school, sewing or cooking, you never gave up on anything you did," said Zachary.

"That's because I have never really done my part as a family member," said Sarah, who suddenly had a solemn expression on her face, "Whether it was at home whereby I couldn't help to share the family's burden of repaying daddy's debts because I was too young to work then or even on that day when our house was attacked…all I could do was hide and leave you to protect me…"

"Don't be silly," said Zachary as he patted Sarah on her head, "I am your older brother, and you are my one and only younger sister. Of course I will protect you, no matter what happens…" and Sarah smiled.

"Ok I've got to get going now! My friends from school are waiting for me outside the gates, see you later older brother!" said Sarah and she left the office, leaving Zachary to finish the rest of his lunch.

In the meantime, at Rufus's office, Vincent was helping him out with his research materials.

"Sorry for asking you to help out today Vincent," said Rufus, "You must be busy on normal days training the new batch of junior division as it is."

"It's ok," replied Vincent, who continued to filter through the files on his computer, "If it's only for a day Michael can handle the training on his own. More importantly, you are thinking of her again aren't you? That woman, Hazuki Kamiya… You hardly ever ask for assistance in work unless you are distracted in your own thoughts…"

"I'm sorry Vincent, I know you must still be feeling extremely upset about Elena's death," and as Rufus said so, he looked over at Elena's photo on his desk.

"I've accepted it and moved on… Back then I understood that it must have been difficult for you to break up with Hazuki as well, but you still did it in the end, for the sake of Sebastian and me," said Vincent.

"Sebastian doesn't seem to be accepting of me anytime soon however," said Rufus, who was frowning slightly, "But I understand if he doesn't ever want to acknowledge me as his father… After all, that boy has always been closest to Elena…"

"He will someday," said Vincent as he selected a few files in his folder and clicked the print button.

"Let's just hope so," replied Rufus, who then suddenly added, "About Haine, do you realize that she resembles Hazuki a lot at times? The first time Zachary had brought her into my office it wasn't only her face but her attitude and the strength of her spirit as well… It was so similar to Hazuki…"

"Really? I have forgotten how that woman had looked like after so many years," answered Vincent, and then changing the topic, he had suddenly asked, "Do you think that it's as Amber had said, that Haine was the one who had sold us out?"

"I personally do not know," said Rufus honestly, "But my instinct tells me that there is more to it than meets the eye. Amber does let her emotions get the better of her sometimes…"

"Speaking of Amber, she looks rather disturbed these days…" said Vincent.

"Knowing her it's most likely got to do with Zachary," replied Rufus.

"Let's just hope that it will be like always, after an all out argument between the two and everything will be fine again," said Vincent as he proceeded to the printer and collected the stack of documents.

At the administrative block, Haine was doing her job as a receptionist fairly well, having adapted to her duties.

"Good afternoon madam, may I help you please?"

"Good afternoon, may I know when product WS456 will be ready?"

"In about 2-3 days time, madam. I believe the deadline is in 4 days time?"

"Yes, indeed. I was just calling up to confirm its status at the moment. Thank you very much."

"You're welcome and have a nice day."

And Haine placed the phone back down. Working in an internationally renowned electronics company, it was necessary to entertain many phone calls throughout the day. Most customers normally asked about the status of their deliveries as well as the company products which are most suited for their custom uses. However on some rare occasions, another group of people cleverly disguised as typical customers calls and requests to be directed to Rufus personally, most probably to discuss about the latest assassination mission or some other form of business in the underworld. By late evening, one such phone call had occurred.

"Good evening sir, may I help you please?"

"This is Noctis Clayworth speaking. May I speak to Mr Rufus Robinson please?"

"I'm sorry, but if it's any company related…"

"It's about the incident at Mexico City."

"Oh I see, I am sorry. I will redirect you to Mr Robinson's line straight away." And after directing the call to Rufus's office phone, Haine was exhausted and finally duty free for the day.

"I wonder if Zachary has knocked off yet," thought Haine and just as she was about to head towards the lift, someone from behind had called out, "Haine, can you pass this to Zachary? I forgot to do so just a while ago and I've got other things to attend to now…"

"Sure thing Benjamin," replied Haine who took the file into her hands as Benjamin walked away.

Proceeding to Zachary's office, she was just about to knock on the door when she heard some voices from inside the room.

"Zachary?" she called, but nobody replied. Opening the door slightly, she saw that Zachary was fast asleep on his desk.

Opening the door a little wider, she walked in and closed the door back as lightly as she could, hoping to leave the file quietly on his desk and then go. However, just as she was about to do so, she heard voices again.

"Don't hurt mom and dad, take me instead… Leave them alone…" Haine looked around and much to her surprise, it was Zachary talking in his sleep.

"Zachary?" said Haine as she settled the file onto the table and started to tap him lightly on his shoulder. He still did not open his eyes.

"Leave my sister alone, don't hurt Sarah… I will do anything so stop it… Please stop stabbing my mom…" he said desperately while his forehead is beginning to sweat profusely.

"Zachary! ZACHARY!" Haine had continued to shout into his ear. After a few seconds had passed, he had finally begun to open his eyes.

Waking up with a start, Zachary sat up immediately and looked around at Haine. He looked very pale.

"Are you okay?"Haine asked concernedly as she leaned towards him and took out a handkerchief from her pocket while dabbing it on Zachary's forehead with her right hand, "You were talking in your sleep…"

But at that instant, Zachary had gripped onto Haine's right hand tightly and pulled her against his chest and said, "I thought I was back to that night, when my parents were killed. I'm so glad I'm here right now, that you're here…" and as he said so, he started to move towards Haine while holding onto her face gently with both his hands, causing Haine to blush at the intensity of his gaze. As he continued to lean forward, her face getting closer and closer to his, their lips getting closer and closer to each other's, Zachary had suddenly paused, and then leaned in beside her face to peck her on her left cheek.

"I am sorry for scaring you just now," he said and while placing a hand on Haine's head, he then turned to walk away and leave the office.

"What was all that about," Haine thought as she placed her hand on the spot where Zachary had kissed her. It continued to feel warmer than the rest of her face.

Meanwhile however, Zachary was at the balcony rooftop of the mansion and thought to himself, "How could I do that all of a sudden? I'm such an idiot…" and as he thought so, a scene of when he had kissed Haine on her cheek just now appeared in his mind, "She must be feeling upset by what I've done earlier on, I should apologize at once…" While saying so, he was just about to turn back when to his slight amazement, Haine had come looking for him as well.

"Haine," said Zachary as he took a step forward, "I'm…" But before he could say anything, Haine had spoken at that very moment, "Don't apologize," which caused Zachary to be slightly taken aback.

"What I want to hear from you is not an apology," Haine continued to say, "What I really want to know is what that kiss had meant just now…" and suddenly comprehending what she had been saying, Haine flushed in embarrassment. In spite of this however, she gathered up her courage and walked boldly towards Zachary until they were both standing directly right in front of each other. While looking straight into Zachary's eyes, she took a deep breath and said, "I like you… Ever since that time in Sydney… Even till today I have always felt a strong attraction towards you. But when I knew that Amber and you were together, I was scared, I didn't know what to do… Whenever I had saw the both of you kiss, a part of me had always felt somewhat uncomfortable… Sometimes even I don't get it myself but I just…I…" and not able to continue on any further, Haine felt her voice stuck in her throat as she continued to stare at Zachary in the eyes.

"I'm...I'm just so sorry for saying stupid things right now!" Haine had burst out before she knew what she was doing and as she started to head towards the stairs and ran as fast as she could, wanting to lock herself in her room and never come out, Zachary had wrapped his arms around her and prevented her from leaving.

"Why are you leaving when you had just confessed?" asked Zachary quietly as he continued to take in the scent of her hair, never once realizing how soft and lovely it was.

"Because I know that Amber wouldn't be happy about it," replied Haine, who remained still and continued to lean against Zachary.

"Then what about my feelings then?" Zachary continued to ask Haine, "Don't you want to know about my true feelings towards you as well?"

"This was it, this was the moment," thought Haine and she closed her eyes, not daring to hear what's coming. But what had happened next was most definitely not within her expectations; Zachary had held her face up by the chin and placed his lips against hers, leaving her momentarily stunned.

"Za…Zachary…" but her voice immediately died off as he placed his tongue into her mouth, exploring every inch of it as Haine proceeded to place an arm gently on Zachary's face. Feeling the sensation of their tongues together, Zachary continued to deepen the kiss, which sent shivers of pleasure down Haine's spine. Then after what had seemed like an eternity, the two had pulled away from each other at last.

"I'll take care of you, so stay with me, Haine…" said Zachary as he patted Haine on her head. Haine, who was placing her arms around Zachary, said nothing but continued to be embraced by the warmth of his body…